Womens Reproductive rights

[anniefabulous]

Do you realize that if abortion is outlawed, it is the same as saying that a woman can be forced into having a cesarean-section against her will with no kind of lawful repercutions available to her?  It means that women who want to have their babies at home can be arrested and put in jail.  It means that a woman with a breech presentation or multiples must automatically consent to a cesarean section.  There are many who call themselves birth advocates and pro-lifers but do you realize that those two things cannot go hand in hand?  Reproductive rights don't stop at the point where a woman decides if she wants to carry a baby or not, they include the manner and the dignity with which every woman should be allowed to give birth. 

In Jennifer Block's new book Pushed, she brings up the question of why women's reproductive rights have to do with everything but giving birth and why aren't more people taking a stand...  What do you think? 

[allamericankate]

Oct. 18, 2007 at 3:43 PM The point is that your rights end where another's begin.  The unborn have no rights ... abortions are not a matter of health in most cases ... in fact it is proven that abortions cause scarring and increase the risk of breast cancer.   Giving birth has nothing to do with intentionally killing a child.  When a woman decides to kill her child so that she may live as she wants it is completely different than when a woman decides she wants to birth at home.

[anniefabulous]

Oct. 19, 2007 at 3:09 PM i don't think it is different at all.  they both have to do with a woman's body and the choices that she makes.  does my right to a vaginal birth end because the on-call doctor does not have the knowledge of how to catch that baby even though research shows that giving birth vaginally to a baby presenting breech is safer than the surgical cesarean section?  where is the choice in that?  i am not debating the fact that abortion kills babies, i am just saying that a woman's uterus is still her uterus no matter if she chooses to abort or birth and all the choices related to each of those things should be available to every woman without the threat of litigation.   just as women have been forced into having an abortion, so to have women been forced to give birth in ways that violate their rights and freedom of choice...

(Original Poster)

[amy160]

Oct. 19, 2007 at 11:40 PM I DON'T BELIEVE IN ABORTIONS . i KNOW THEIR ARE METHODS TO KEEP A WOMEN FROM GETTING PREGNANT .Like birth control pills, condoms , can give the baby up for adoption. IT'S a women's right though to make decisions she thinks she can live with.Personally, i couldn't  have and abortion. I had two miscarriages, and i'm still not completely over it.Even though now i have two girls.

[anniefabulous]

Oct. 20, 2007 at 12:30 PM if we could just get past the abortion issue maybe we could talk about the real issue which is that womens' rights are being tossed by the wayside when it comes to birth because of the lie that "all that really matters is a healthy baby..."  what about a healthy mom and even better a healthy family?

(Original Poster)

[vbacmama]

Oct. 20, 2007 at 12:45 PM

I think that cesareans and abortions should follow the SAME rules: they must ONLY be performed if the mother or child's life is in danger.

 

[anniefabulous]

Oct. 20, 2007 at 2:46 PM what about VBACs?  should a woman have the right to a VBAC only if it's a tuesday and its not raining?  should a womans' choice to have a vaginal birth be arbitrarily suspended because of lack of knowledge on the part of a physician or because of a reccomendation by an insurance company? 

(Original Poster)

[vbacmama]

Oct. 20, 2007 at 2:53 PM Yeah, but a vbac is different. And if all low risk had their children with a midwife at home that it wouldn't even be an issue.

[anniefabulous]

Oct. 22, 2007 at 10:32 AM

look at this from another angle... i don't want to debate the abortion issue, i am just using it as an example. 

The NAtional Institute of Health held a conference in January this year to decide if women should be "allowed" to have a cesarean section UPON REQUEST.   Of course they decided that it was a great idea and now ACOG has formerly accepted this idea and has recommended it to their members. 

Now, my question is, if a woman can REQUEST a risky abdominal surgical procedure, AND GET IT, shouldn't that woman, or any other, have the RIGHT to  request and get a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean or  give birth vaginally to a breech presenting baby?  And furthermore, shouldn't her physician be required to have the skills to support that woman in her request / descision?   The research SUPPORTS the fact that both a VBAC and a vaginal birth with a breech baby are SAFER than a cesarean section.  However because ACOG refuses to actually acknowledge any scientific research that doesn't directly benefit their pockets, and because of the inexperience and lack of knowledge on the part of physicians, women are being denied their right to the birth experience they deserve because of the risk of "liability."   Liability risk which is being calculated by some dude named stan in a cubicle in Cleveland...  Why does stan get more of a say in my birth than i do?  Why do my baby, myself and my family have to suffer the consequences of birth trauma because of the arbitrary guidelines being set by some dude?  Women should have the right to CHOOSE the manner in which they give birth, free from the ridiculous guidelines passed down by ACOG and other organizations.   ALL women (regardless of insurance coverage, potential risk-level or race) should have the right to have equal access to effective and compassionate pre and post-partum care.  All women should have equal access to KNOWLEDGEABLE caregivers who are truly at the SERVICE of the women who HIRE them.  And finally, all women should be empowered and encouraged to question their caregivers and CHANGE caregivers without fear of retribution.  

This is what i am talking about in regards to women's reproductive rights.   We need to be pro-active and pro-choice in birth!

(Original Poster)